Draft gear



E. P. KINNE June 19, 1934.

DRAFT GEAR Filed DeG. 19. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l l Edmund P Kznne. Ey ,Jy/081% E. P. KINNE DRAFT GEAR June 19, 1934.

Filed DeC. 19. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edmund P Kinne.

By MMM,

E. P. KINNE June 19, 1934.

DRAFT GEAR Filed Deo 19, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inder- LNLuTLd P Rinne By @uw M7555 Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STA DRAFT GEAR VEdmund P. Kinne, Alliance, Ohio, assig'nor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey n Application December 19,

1931, serial No. 582,038

1 Claim. (Cl. 213-22) The present invention relates to draft appliances, andA more in particular to novel means associated therewith which Vacts as auxiliary means for Vabsorbing additional forces,

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel draft appliance including auxiliary means associatedl with the main draft device for absorbing additional buiiing forces transferred through the main draft device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel draft appliance including means normally under high initial compression which is adaptedto be operated at a particular interval of. time during the operation of the main draft device for assisting in absorbing buffing forces transferred through the main draft device.

The invention comprehends the idea of providing auxiliary means adapted to be operated for resisting movement of a main draft gear associated with a draft yoke and for absorbing additional forces transferred through the draft gear.

Another object within the purview of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary shock absorbing means operable at a given interval of ytime during the operation'of a main draftfdevice for absorbing additional forces transmitted through the main draft device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide cooperating friction elements adapted to have cooperative relation with a main draft gear of a draft appliance and for resisting movement of this draft gear, the same being operable at a predetermined interval of time during operation of the main draft gear for absorbing additional buffing forces transmitted through the draft gear of the draft appliance.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates the idea of providing frictional means including cooperating friction elements for absorbing additional buiiing forces, oneof these friction elements being in the nature of a movable back stopk having apart conforming essentially to the forward portion of back stop casting for conventional draft appliance. In an embodiment selectedto illustrate the invention, this movable back stopis provided with friction surfaces adapted to cooperate with complementary friction surfaces of movable friction blocks normally under high initial compression for resisting the movement of the vmain draft appliance associated therewith.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide supplemental shock absorbing means 5 which willv give increased 4total travel ofl the coupended hereto.

pler of a draft appliance in buff, and in which the travel of the coupler in draft is not changed from the present standard practice. The present invention further .includes as an object the idea of providing a supplemental buiilng shock absorbso ing means of high capacity'adapted to be operated only after a considerable portion of the movement of the-draft gear of the main draft appliance has occurred. K

The present invention still further comprehends 05 the idea of providing a draft appliance in which a yieldable back stop is provided therefor and in which this yieldable back stop forms a part of an auxiliary device or mechanism for absorbing additional forces to which the draft appliance may be subjected. The invention contemplates providing an auxiliary .mechanisml preferably under high initial compression so that this back stop member is yieldable and the mechanism of which it forms a partis operabley for absorbing shocks and forces only after a considerable proportion of the movement of the draft appliance has taken place. Y

Still another objectv f the present invention is to provide an auxiliary shock absorbing mechanism for a draft appliance, this mechanism occupying the space at present now occupied by an integral back stop and center filler casting. The present invention includes the idea of forming this mechanism with a movable back stop mem- .ber associated withA the main draft gear and a center filler casting, between which is an auxiliary gear for absorbing these additional forces.

With these andl various other objects in view,

the invention mayconsist of certain novelffeatures of construction and operation, as will vbe more fully described and particularly pointed outl in the specification, drawings and claim ap- In the drawings, which' illustrate an embodi- 95 ment of the device and' wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of a ldraft appliance made in accordance with the present invention, the same having parts shown in horizontal crossv section to'dis'close' the same more in detail;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal View in vertical cross section of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 of the drawings; v 105 Figure 3 is a view in in a plane represented by line the drawings;

Figure 4 is a view in vertical cross section taken no vertical cross section taken 3-3 of Figure 1 of in a plane represented by line 4-4 of Figure 2 of the drawings;

Figure 5 is a view similar to that shown in Figure l of the drawings with the draft gear in pulling position in the upper half section and with the draft gear in buffing position in the lower half section;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan View of an alternative construction for a draft gear made in accordance with the present invention, the same having parts shown in horizontal cross section to disclose the same more in detail;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal view in vertical cross section of the embodiment shown in Figure 6 of the drawings; and

Figure 8 is a view in cross section taken in the planes represented by lines 8-8 of Figure 6 of the drawings.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention is shown in connection with a draft appliance, generally referred to as 2, which is made in accordance with standard A. R. A. specifications and includes center sills 4 and 6 at the forward end of which is secured a striking casting 8 having rearwardly disposed cheek plates 10 and 12 formed with reinforced slots 14 and 16, these cheek plates being secured .to the center sills, as by means of rivets 18, or the like. The striking casting 8 is provided with a wear plate of usual construction adapted to support the shank 22 of a car coupler of the conventional A. R. A. construction, this shank 22 being provided with a transversely disposed slct 24 adapted to receive a draft key member 26 supported upon the cheek plates 10 and 12 and operable within the limits of the slots 14 and 16 thereof, respectively. This draft appliance further includes a vertical type yoke 28 formed with upper and lower strap portions 30 and 32 integrally connected by a rear end portion 34. This yoke 28 is further provided with the forwardly disposed arms 36 and 38 provided with slots, such 40, for receiving the horizontally disposed draft key member 26 for effecting a connection between the coupler shank 22 and the yoke 28.

The butt end of the coupler shank or stem 22 is normally in contacting engagement with the front follower (not disclosed) of a main draft gear designated in the drawings by the diagonal lines within the limits of the strap members 30 and 32 and referred to, for the purposes of this discussion, as 42.

In the present disclosure, suitable means, generally designated as 44, is provided and is adapted to act to absorb additional forces only after a considerable portion of the movement of the main draft gear 42 has occurred. Such means includes a movable back stop member formed with a forwardly disposed recess 48 adapted to fit around or receive the rear end 34 of the yoke 28. This back stop casting has a front portion which conforms with the back stop portion of the present usual integral back stop and ller casting, the same cooperating with the rear follower or wedge block (not disclosed) of the draft gear associated with the yoke in a manner to be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In spaced relation with this movable back stop member or wedge member 46 and suitably secured in any desired manner to the center sills 4 and 6 is a center ller and back stop casting 50. The rear portion of the back stop member or wedge block 46 is formed with wedge shaped friction surfaces, such as 52, the same being diagonally disposed, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, while the front portion of the center ller or back stop casting 50 is likewise formed with wedge shaped surfaces, such as 54, these surfaces being similarly disposed in a diagonal direction laterally. Between the back stop member or wedge block 46 and the center filler or back stop casting 56 is a pair of friction blocks 56 and 58 formed with wedge shaped friction surfaces adapted to have cooperative relation with the wedge shaped friction surfaces, such as 52 and 54, of the movable back stop member or wedge block 46 and center filler or back stop casting 50, respectively, these friction blocks 56 and 58 being maintained in their cooperative relation with the wedge block 46 and back stop casting 5G by means of the overhanging flanges, such as 60, formed on the upper and lower parts of the movable back stop or wedge block 46 and center ller or back stop casting 50.

Movement of the friction blocks 56 and 58 in a lateral direction and away from one another is resisted by means of coil springs 62 and 64, each of these springs being adjacent an end of the spring rod 66 and being interposed between a spool member 68 and a washer 70 normally held in position by means of a nut 72. Each of the spool members 68 ts within a recess, such as 74, provided in each of the friction blocks 56 and 58, the same being held in operative position within a slot '76 provided in a center sill.

In the present draft appliance made in accordance with the present disclosure, the auxiliary shock absorbing means 44 is normally under high initial compression, the springs 62 and 64 beingsuitably compressed, whereby the friction blocks 56 and 58 do not act until a substantial portion of the movement of the main draft gear 42 has occurred. Upon operation of the auxiliary shock absorbing means 44, the friction blocks 56 and 58 are moved outwardly under the action of the springs 62 and 64 until the same are in their maximum outward position, as clearly shown in the lower half section of Figure 5 of the drawings. It is of course understood that when these friction blocks are in the position as shown in the lower half section of this figure, the main draft gear 42 is under compression for the transmission of buing forces, these friction blocks 56 and 58 acting toabsorb additional builing forces until such time as the lianges of the movable back stop member or wedge block 46 and center filler or back stop casting 56 come into contacting engagement, as clearly shown in the lower half section of this referred to Figure 5.

Upon release of the main draft gear 42, as likewise the auxiliary shock absorbing means 44, and when the main draft gear 2 is in draft, the rear end portion 34 of the yoke 28 moves forwardly and away from the wedge member 46, as clearly shown in the upper half section of Figure 5 of the drawings. Inasmuch as the springs 62 and 64 are under initial tension, the movable back stop or wedge block 46 is urged forwardly whereby the same comes :into contact with the stops 78 secured to the center sills 4 and 6 for limiting the movement of this wedge block and to maintain the initial compression of the springs 62 and 64.

n Figures 6 to 8 inclusive is disclosed an alternative arrangement for a draft appliance made in accordance with the present invention. This draft appliance includes the center sills 30 and 62, to the forward ends of which is secured a striking casting 84 having the rearwardly extending cheek plates 86 and 88 suitably secured to these center sills in any desired manner, this striking casting being adapted to receive a coupler stem 90 and support the same for horizontal angling. This coupler stem 90 is pivotally secured, as by means of the pin 92, to a yoke 94 of the vertical type, which is adapted to be supported upon a plate member 96 extending between the draft sills and 82 and secured thereto in any desired manner, Positioned between the upper and lower strap members of the yoke 94 is a draft gear 98 of any desired construction, which is adapted to resist draft and buffing forces transmitted thereto by way of the coupler stem 90 and the yoke 94, forward movement of this draft gear being limited as by means of stop members 100 formed integral and extending inwardly from the cheek plates 86 and 88.

As will be clearly seen lfrom the drawings, the yoke 94 is formed with a hooded forward end 102 having an arcuate shaped transversely disposed wall 104 received within the slotted end 106 of the coupler stem 90, this wall 104 being adapted to cooperate with a complementary arcuate transversely disposed wall 108 which is formed integral with the coupler stem 90. During the transmission of buffing forces, movement of the coupler stem 90 is transferred to the yoke 94 as by means of the cooperating arcuate surfaces ony the front and rear walls 108 and 104, and 107 and 105 of the coupler stem and yoke, respectively, whereby the yoke 94 is moved upon the support 96 in a rearward direction. In order to absorb these bulng forces to which the draft gear 98 is normally subjected, is a back stop member 110 which is movably secured to the draft sills 80 and 82 and which is formed with a recess 112 adapted to receive the rear end portion 114 of the yoke 94. c

In spaced relation with this movable back stop member 110 is a fixed back stop or center filler member 116 suitably secured, as by means of rivets or the like 118, to the center sills 80 and 82.

The movable back stop casting 110, as likewise the fixed back stop member or center ller 116 is formed with a plurality of pairs of wedge shaped surfaces, such as 120, diagonally disposed in a plurality of directions. Between the movable back stop member 110 and the center filler member 116 are a plurality of pairs of friction blocks, such as 122 and 124, which are formed with wedge shaped surfaces, such as 126, adapted to cooperate with the wedge shaped surfaces 120 of the movable and fixed back stop members for resisting movement Vof the movable back stop member and the coupler draft gear 42, and the yoke 94 after the draft gear 98 thereof has been compressed to a predetermined amount. Each of the friction blocks of the pairs is formed 'with a groove 128 adapted to form an opening to receive a spring supporting member 130 extending therethrough ina transverse direction.

Mounted upon the supporting rod 130 and cooperating with each of these pairs of friction blocks, such as 122 and 124, is a spool member 132 formed with flanges 134 and 136, this spool member being movable within an elongated slot 138 formed in the draft sills 80 and 82.

In order to resist the outward movement of these pairs of friction blocks, a coil spring assembly 140 is mounted upon each end of the supporting rod 130 and interposed between a spool member 132 and a washer or securing member 142 suitably retained in place by a nut 143 threaded on the end of the supporting rod. These coil spring assemblies 140 comprise an outer coil spring 144 and an inner coil spring 146, each of which is adapted to abut against the flanges 136 of a spool member for urging the flanges 134 inwardly into engagement with these pairs of friction blocks.

Under normal Aoperating conditions, the draft gear'98 of the main draft appliance is adapted to absorb and resist bufling forces transferred from the coupler member to the yoke, the back stop member 110 being normally fixed for resisting the rearward movement of the yoke and draft gear. This is accomplishedv by placing the spring assemblies 140 under a high initial compression. When the main draft gear 98 is subjected to severe shocks and bufling forces, the back stop member 110 is moved rearwardly under the action of the yoke 94 and draft gear 98, whereby a plurality of pairs of friction blocks, such as 122 and 124, are caused to be moved outwardly and away from one another under the impulse of the coil spring assemblies 144 so that the cooperating wedge shaped friction surfaces 120 and 126 cooperate for resisting these additional buffing forces.

It isto be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim. Y

I claim:

In a draft arrangement, the combination of spaced draft sills, a fixed backstop casting defining a standard draft gear pocket, a vertical plane yoke disposed and supported between said draft sills, a coupler movably secured to said yoke and draft sills, draft gear operable in a direction longitudinally of said yoke and disposed between and cooperating with said yoke and coupler, said draft gear including a follower, the backstop casting xed to said sills having inclined friction surfaces thereon, draft gear operable in a direction transversely of said sills, and projecting outwardly thereof and interposed between said yoke and said backstop casting, said last-named draft gear including a movable backstop casting having a recess into which the end of said yoke projects whereby said last named backstop casting embraces said yoke, but is disposed to be longitudinally spacedv therefrom, said last-named backstop casting engaging said follower and having inclined friction surfaces cooperating and similar to said first named friction surfaces, and transversely arranged spring pressed friction blocks disposed between said backstop castings and normally resisting movement of said backstop castings toward veach other and having friction surfaces slidably cooperating y 

